Man charged with providing data theft tool in national identity theft case

A New York man was charged in U.S. District Court with providing a sniffer program used to monitor and capture data including customers’ credit and debit card information as it traveled across corporate computer networks.

Stephen Watt, age 25, of New York, was charged in an Information with conspiracy. The Information alleges that Watt was a member of a conspiracy which, between 2003 and 2008, unlawfully gained electronic access to corporate computer networks using various techniques, downloaded customers’ credit and debit card information, and fraudulently used that information and sold the information to others for fraudulent use.

The Information further alleges that Watt modified and provided a sniffer program used by the conspirators to monitor and capture the data crossing corporate computer networks. If convicted on these charges, Watt faces up to five years imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

The details contained in the Information are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Don't miss